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Earendil chuckled and handed Miyuki over to her carefully. "You know I can carry her if you need a break," he grinned at her. "I really don't mind."

Haldia giggled. "Of course you don't. Honestly, Earendil, sometimes I wonder if there's anything you do mind. You're always so cheerful about everything."

Earendil chuckled and let Lin lead the way. "I love kids, what can I say?"

Haldia looked at him as if she wanted to ask him something, but then she seemed to think better of it and sighed, shaking her head.

Earendil tilted his head at her. "What?"

"You should try listening to your father sometime," she replied with a shrug.

"Nothing more than he ever does," Earendil shrugged. He smiled at Lin. "Don't you worry about it."

Haldia rolled her eyes, but she didn't say anything else.

Near the door of the barracks, sitting directly in the sunshine, was Aragost, dressed all in black, as usual. His hood was down though, and his scarred face was turned up to the sunlight, basking in its warmth.

Earendil tilted his head slightly and nodded at the man. "Who's that?" he asked softly.

Earendil couldn't help but stare. He was so different from what he had imagined ...

At Lin's voice, Aragost smiled slightly and turned his head towards the group.

"Lin," he called back. "And Prince Earendil of the Southland ... Miyuki ... and ..."

His usually passive expression changed to one of amazement, and he rose to his feet slowly.

Haldia put one hand on Lin's shoulder and leaned close. "How does he know us if Earendil has never seen him before?" she asked in a whisper.

"The question, Haldia," Aragost replied, walking closer to them, "is not how did I know of Earendil and of Miyuki. The question is, how did I not know of you and your people?"

Earendil stared. What kind of question was that?

Haldia was also staring, but for a different reason. "You know my language?" she beamed, her golden eyes sparkling. "Are you also of the same Age as Sir Valdemar of the Southland? He is the only other one in this land who speaks our language that we have found."

Aragost smiled, over his surprise by now. "Indeed, I am."

Aragost turned his face towards her, as if he were looking at her, though of course he could not see. He said nothing, but simply "looked" at her patiently, waiting for her to continue.

Earendil fidgeted slightly. He felt as though he were at least partially to blame for Lin breaking her promise. After all, she would not have felt as pressured if he hadn't sworn not to learn it if she couldn't.

Aragost nodded and kept his face turned towards her, waiting for her to continue. He understood he reasons, he understood her intentions, and he did not hold it against her that she had broken her promise to him. There were only two words left for her to say, and the incident would be in the past.

For a moment, Aragost didn't move: but then he reached out with one blackened hand and gripped Lin's shoulder gently.

"All is forgiven," he said softly, his voice rasping as it had when he had first arrived at the ranch. He smiled and squeezed her shoulder lightly, then released her. "You have a beautiful daughter," he murmured.

Earendil and Haldia exchanged a glance. "How do you know that if you cannot see her?" Haldia asked, since it was quite obvious that the man was blind.

Aragost chuckled softly. "As Lin has explained," he replied, "I know -- almost ... everything."

Another time he would have said that he knew everything, but the fact that Haldia had taken him so by surprise proved that he didn't.

Earendil was still amazed by the fact. "You are the only person I know of who knows more than my cousin, Lothiriel," he chuckled.

Aragost looked at the prince, his face expressionless. "Well ... she had to get it from someone, after all."

Earendil blinked. Was the man implying what he thought he was implying?